Valvular & structural heart disease

Impact of the Extent, Pattern, and Location of Replacement Myocardial Fibrosis on Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Regurgitation

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc ImagingPublished consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and no significant coronary artery stenosis who underwent contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were included

Main finding · Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): cardiovascular mortality, heart transplantation, or rehospitalization for heart failureResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 3.028 95% CI 1.216–7.539

Authors' conclusion

In AR, an LGE extent > 2.6% predicts MACE better than LGE presence alone. Furthermore, non-ischemic predominant subendocardial-involved LGE is independently associated with MACE. The coexistence of both features further amplifies the risk of MACE.

Study context

Population
Patients with chronic moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and no significant coronary artery stenosis who underwent contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)mean age 52.6 ± 14.2 years, 54 female
Participants
363 patients
Comparison
The association between late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) characteristics and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
  • LGE presentn = 200
Outcome
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): cardiovascular mortality, heart transplantation, or rehospitalization for heart failure
Follow-up
Median 56.6 months
Methodological detailsBetween 2010 and 2024
  • Between 2010 and 2024

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): cardiovascular mortality, heart transplantation, or rehospitalization for heart failure

Hazard ratio

3.028

95% CI 1.216–7.539

P = 0.017

Predominant subendocardial-involved LGE
HR 3.028 (95% CI 1.216–7.539); P = 0.017
Patients who experienced MACE
73

Further findings

LGE presence

LGE was present
200 patients (55.1%)

LGE extent threshold of 2.6% for risk stratification

C-index (highest)
0.797
Likelihood ratio chi-square
97.30
Akaike information criterion (lowest)
681.06

Predominant subendocardial-involved LGE among LGE-positive patients

Predominant subendocardial-involved LGE, of LGE-positive patients
13.5%

MACE by combined LGE extent and pattern (Kaplan-Meier)

Patients with both LGE extent >2.6% and predominant subendocardial-involved LGE pattern were at the highest risk of MACE

Original publication

Impact of the Extent, Pattern, and Location of Replacement Myocardial Fibrosis on Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Regurgitation. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 14 October 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjci/jeag285

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it

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